The Waking of a Nation

The Waking of a Nation needs to be congratulated for dialling down the jingoism, yet keeping emotions running high as events unfold and characters evoke our rage, grief, and empathy. It is a very unusual historical drama-there is no chest-beating, no flag-burning, but the injustice, atrocities, and tragedies of those times are clear for everyone to see. I appreciated the fact that not all Britishers were tainted with the same brush; the series showed empathy for British victims as well.

There is meticulous attention to detail, bringing alive those times. The story, veering between the larger historical events and their impact on people in Amritsar, keeps one hooked to know more. While there are no surprises on who the villain is, it is interesting to see how the villain is revealed to everyone.

I am not a history enthusiast, but I appreciated the insight into this significant, tragic event that shaped the course of our freedom struggle. Definitely worth a watch!

Most shows about historical events focus on the big moments, but this one is different. It's not just about the Jallianwala Bagh massacre-it's about the tensions that led to it, the people who tried to stop it, and the system that covered it up afterward. That's what makes it so gripping.

Kantilal Sahni is such an interesting character because he starts off believing in the system. He thinks the Hunter Commission is there to find the truth. But as he listens to testimonies and sees how the British manipulate the investigation, he realises he's part of something much bigger-and much more dangerous. Watching his moral struggle unfold makes the story feel incredibly real.

The courtroom debates are some of the best moments in the series. The arguments, the frustration, the moments where you can see the truth slipping through the cracks-it's all so well done. The production quality is top-notch, from the costumes to the historical details that make colonial India feel alive.

It's rare to find a historical drama that feels this immersive. This isn't just about remembering history-it's about understanding how it was shaped.

I accept the cinematic inaccuracies that have been pointed out in many reviews of this movie. I too did get bored with the movie dragging so much. However, I would like to highlight that the incident described in the movie happened more than a 100 years ago and in these years no director had the will and courage to enlighten us on the reality. All Indians have only heard of and criminalized General Dyer in our heads. Had it not been for movies like Sardar Udam and this one, our youth would still be behind the veil. So I would encourage all to see this movie as it is really an eye opener........

Anwar Says: An event JALIANWALA BAGH MASSACRE at Amritsar and the name of General Dyer is synonymous with it and here the director Ram Madhwani tried to expose the real conspiracy and bring into light the truth through Courtroom scenes of Hunter Commission appointed by the then British Empire . The fictional character Kantilal Sahni is loosely taken from the advocate Sir Chimanlal Hiralal Setalvad , who cross-examined Dyer and so Madhvani rubs off TRUE EVENTS after writing in the openings of WAKING OF A NATION ,streaming on sonyliv.

Kanti , played by Taaruk Raina, is present in almost 95% of the frames and keep on narrating the facts with his monologues and series of flashbacks. Here is the problems with the webseries . So many time frames are used in flashbacks, courtroom lacks intensity and many a times repetitive. But the sets , actual British characters and in particular depiction of massacre through sound engineering and let you visualise the scene are the features of Madhvani creation. Nikita Dutta has also played her role superb as Munshi of publishing house.

The series will definitely appeal the History loving audience, since this would add some depth to their knowledge of Freedom Movement and for common audiences it is definitely an interesting watch in spite of some of its shortcomings.

#SonyLIV #anwarsays #FreedomMovement #jalianwalabagh #GeneralDyer #amritsar #RamMadhvani #taarukraina #huntercommission #rowlettact.

Waking of a Nation is a masterfully crafted series that weaves past and present into a seamless and compelling narrative. The storytelling is intelligent and immersive, keeping you emotionally invested from start to finish.

The bond between the three central characters is beautifully portrayed, adding depth to the historical and political themes. The performances, especially by the actress playing Poonam, are deeply moving and memorable.

The series delivers powerful moments of tension and triumph, making for a truly satisfying watch. It offers a fresh perspective on history, leaving a lasting impact. Highly recommended.